Title
Recognizing, congratulating, and celebrating the Clara Barton School on the distinguished occasion of its 100-year Anniversary, commemorating a century of early childhood academic excellence.
Body
WHEREAS, The Clara Barton School is a longstanding public elementary school located in the Feltonville neighborhood of Philadelphia. For a century, it has served as a cornerstone of early childhood education in the City; and
WHEREAS, The school is named after Clara Barton (1821-1912), an educator, Civil War nurse, and founder of the American Red Cross. Barton began her career teaching in underserved communities and was instrumental in establishing free public education in New Jersey. Her legacy as a humanitarian and advocate for public service is central to the school’s identity; and
WHEREAS, The Clara Barton School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 due to its distinctive Art Deco design and architectural significance. The school was designed by Irwin T. Catharine, a prominent architect who served as chief architect for the Philadelphia School District from 1920 to 1937. He played a key role in shaping the visual identity of public education in Philadelphia during the early 20th century; and
WHEREAS, The Clara Barton School focuses on developing inquisitive, self-motivated learners through rigorous instruction, technology integration and a supportive environment. The school emphasizes literacy across subjects, social and emotional growth, and personalized learning to help each student reach their full potential. It believes all students can succeed when given high expectations and tailored support; and
WHEREAS, Since 2009, Principal Colleen Bowen has led the school, implementing a Readers and Writers Workshop model that significantly improved literacy instruction. Under her leadership, the school’s overall rating on the School Progress Report increased by one full level; and
WHEREAS, Clara Barton's excellence in literacy instruction has set this institution apart as a leader in early education. The school is recognized as one of the top performers in the Phanatic About Reading Program presented by Xfinity. This initiative promotes daily reading among students in Pre-K through 8th grade and currently reaches over 146,000 students; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the Clara Barton School educates around 500 students from Pre-K through 2nd grade and is part of the School District of Philadelphia and the Feltonville Educational Community Campus; and
WHEREAS, As the Clara Barton School celebrates its 100-year anniversary, it continues to embody the values of its namesake by promoting resilience, compassion, and community engagement. The school remains committed to preparing young students for lifelong learning and success in life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes, congratulates, and celebrates, the Clara Barton School on the distinguished occasion of its 100-year Anniversary, commemorating a century of early childhood academic excellence.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the Clara Barton School as evidence of the respect and admiration of this legislative body.
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